This Independence Day is a good wake up call to see how easily freedoms and social order can be lost or surrendered. Freedom of expression is lost when it is not used. So, I want to share a few thoughts.
These hateful views often come from poisonous ideologies. For example, consider ideologies which strive to teach that unborn humans are less than, or that immigrants and refugees are less than, or that so-called "white privilege" means that some people less than.
Who of us has not been guilty of viewing someone with an opposing viewpoint as less than? Simply put, "the inequality of man is because of sin and transgression" (Alma 28:13).
We are all children of God. No one is "less than" in His eyes. Each is consummately precious to Him.
Tad R. Callister recently wrote in the Deseret News: "Ted Stewart, a federal judge, put [the matter] in its proper light: 'Today, it is common to criticize the founders of America. Judging them by today’s standards of equality and justice they do fail. Some owned slaves, none fought to give women equal rights. Most were wealthy white men. …
'But there is just one problem with judging them by today’s standards and it is this: but for those imperfect founders and the sacrifices that they made and the instruments of government which they created, there would be no current, enlightened standards of equality and justice by which to judge them.'
"Judge Stewart is so right. The reason the critics can freely criticize, protest, vote for change, run for office and exercise freedom of religion or irreligion as they choose is for one reason and one reason only, because the Founding Fathers made it so. America is the greatest democracy the world has ever known. Do the critics believe these liberties came about by chance?" [2]
The small seedling of liberty and equality was planted by our imperfect but noble forefathers, and it has blossomed into a marvelous tree of freedom and justice for all. To now cut down that tree because the planters were not able to perfectly follow the dictates of that unknown fruit with absolute exactness is completely foolhardy.
"It seems somewhat hypocritical to partake of and enjoy the fruits of liberty while at the same time criticizing the very tree that produced such fruit" (Ibid.).
Let us all have the courage to defy the consensus; the courage to say no, and the courage to say yes:
No to rioting and social upheaval, but yes to the equality of humanity.
No to police brutality, but yes to the need and nobility of police in society.
No to turning to government for answers, but yes to turning to God for answers.
No to relative values defined by social media, but yes to family values defined by God.
No to social justice without morality, but yes to God’s justice driven by morality.
Happy Independence Day! May the great tree of God-given liberty and obedience to His commandments grow to fill the earth. God bless America, the land from which the gospel of Christ goes forth.
[1] https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2015/04/president-monson-calls-for-courage?lang=eng
[2] https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2020/7/1/21310006/tad-callister-founding-fathers-heroes-or-villains-united-states-history-american-revolution
The Courage to Defy the Consensus
President Thomas S. Monson frequently taught: It takes "courage to defy the consensus" and stand for principle, especially in today’s climate of attacking a dissenting voice. We all need "the courage to say no, the courage to say yes." [1]Hatred and Inequality
Hated and mistreatment of others often comes from viewing others as "less than." Police officers are viewed by protesters as less than. People of different ethnic backgrounds have been viewed for far too long as less than. Religious viewpoints in the public arena are currently viewed as less than.These hateful views often come from poisonous ideologies. For example, consider ideologies which strive to teach that unborn humans are less than, or that immigrants and refugees are less than, or that so-called "white privilege" means that some people less than.
Who of us has not been guilty of viewing someone with an opposing viewpoint as less than? Simply put, "the inequality of man is because of sin and transgression" (Alma 28:13).
We are all children of God. No one is "less than" in His eyes. Each is consummately precious to Him.
Look to God and Live
To me, it seems like evil forces have recently subverted a noble cause (the equality of humankind) and turned it into a desire to destroy some of the most fundamental aspects of society. Ironically, modern-day social justice seeks to destroy both society and justice. But the answer to all societal ills is found in turning to God and obeying His commandments (something with which we can all do better).Tad R. Callister recently wrote in the Deseret News: "Ted Stewart, a federal judge, put [the matter] in its proper light: 'Today, it is common to criticize the founders of America. Judging them by today’s standards of equality and justice they do fail. Some owned slaves, none fought to give women equal rights. Most were wealthy white men. …
'But there is just one problem with judging them by today’s standards and it is this: but for those imperfect founders and the sacrifices that they made and the instruments of government which they created, there would be no current, enlightened standards of equality and justice by which to judge them.'
"Judge Stewart is so right. The reason the critics can freely criticize, protest, vote for change, run for office and exercise freedom of religion or irreligion as they choose is for one reason and one reason only, because the Founding Fathers made it so. America is the greatest democracy the world has ever known. Do the critics believe these liberties came about by chance?" [2]
The small seedling of liberty and equality was planted by our imperfect but noble forefathers, and it has blossomed into a marvelous tree of freedom and justice for all. To now cut down that tree because the planters were not able to perfectly follow the dictates of that unknown fruit with absolute exactness is completely foolhardy.
"It seems somewhat hypocritical to partake of and enjoy the fruits of liberty while at the same time criticizing the very tree that produced such fruit" (Ibid.).
Conclusion
To paraphrase Martin Luther King Jr., the solution to societal ills is not to tear down the promise of America, but to live up to the promise of America; the promise that all people are created equal, and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, including life, liberty, equality, a safe society, and the pursuit of happiness.Let us all have the courage to defy the consensus; the courage to say no, and the courage to say yes:
No to rioting and social upheaval, but yes to the equality of humanity.
No to police brutality, but yes to the need and nobility of police in society.
No to turning to government for answers, but yes to turning to God for answers.
No to relative values defined by social media, but yes to family values defined by God.
No to social justice without morality, but yes to God’s justice driven by morality.
Happy Independence Day! May the great tree of God-given liberty and obedience to His commandments grow to fill the earth. God bless America, the land from which the gospel of Christ goes forth.
[1] https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2015/04/president-monson-calls-for-courage?lang=eng
[2] https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2020/7/1/21310006/tad-callister-founding-fathers-heroes-or-villains-united-states-history-american-revolution
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